I joined Local 802 to pursue more opportunities in NYC as well as to connect with other musicians. As a composer, arranger, teacher, saxophonist and flute/clarinet doubler, my musical goal in NYC is to be a successful freelance musician on the scene, as I’ve done in New Jersey. I’ve been subbing on the Broadway show “Ain’t too Proud” since April. I also work as a sideman for live performances and studio sessions, and as an educator/guest clinician for all age groups. I’ve performed with Quincy Mumford and the Reason Why, Evangelia, Eryn Shewell, the Bryan Hansen Band, Chrissie Limos and many others. I started playing saxophone when I was 10, and got to study at Mannes, where I majored in music theory and saxophone performance. I attended college at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts, where I graduated in 2016 with a bachelor of music degree in jazz performance. One of my favorite recent gigs was playing “The Night the Music Lived” (the story of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper) to a sold-out audience at the Surflight Theatre on Long Beach Island. It was very inspiring to play the music of these three men and hear the story of their lives. Music is important to me because it is a universal language that I am able to speak every time I take the stage. People can put aside their differences when creating music or listening to it. Teaching the next generation and using music as a therapy is also very important to me: I have many private students, I give master classes all over the country and I work with autistic students every day.

Jimmy Merchant

jimmy@jamesmerchant.com